Desertification and Land Degradation

Course manual 2018/2019

Course content

This course aims at learning the principles of geo-ecological field inventory and field measurements techniques. This will be illustrated within a field area where desertification and land degradation are important processes. The course is a part of the semester focusing on water related issues. In this course the results of water shortage, as expressed by groundwater over drafting, irrigation, salinization and land degradation problems will be studied in the field. It addresses typical water related issues in dryland regions in contrast to the ecosystems which have excess of water, and that are being dealt with in the other courses in the program. The course has also a function in providing a field translation from classroom conditions to the field. As such it integrates earlier theoretical studied objects with real world field conditions. Field experience is an important part of the education of an Earth Scientist and this course enables the development of required field skills. The course is preceded by a GIS course where techniques are learned to handle field spatial data in state of the art process, both by preparation of pre-field material, as well as for processing field data themselves, and by implementing field knowledge into a model based scenario study on the effects of climate change on degradation ad biomass production.

General Lay-out

Introduction into the theoretical aspects of drylands and their threats such as, desertification and land degradation in general and more specific for the field area to be studied. This is divided into the following sub-sets:

-In the introduction an earth scientific framework for the landscape studied will be given.

-Carrying out a climate scenario study using a simulation model for some of the sites studied in the field with emphasis on water availability and crop growth -Instruction and application of fieldwork in which basic techniques of geo-ecological inventory, along an illustrative gradient of landscapes including different degrees of land degradation.

-A first introduction into measurement techniques to quantify soil degradation, desiccation, water quality parameters, and desertification processes and patterns, and the application of one or more of these methods in temporal or spatial setting.

-Providing an explanation of the produced geo-ecological maps and elucidating the areas’ vulnerability to land degradation and desiccation.

Study materials

Syllabus

• Field Manual Spain 2019

Software

• ArcGIS

  Aquacrop 5.0

Objectives

After the course the student can

• 1. Apply theoretical earth scientific concepts in a landscape study
• 2. Make an inventory of landscapes in order to relate substratum-soil-geomorphology, land use and water availability properties of the landscape
• 3. Integrate field observations in thematic maps with a written explanation
• 4. Relate the impact of climate, soil and land use with water management and degradation of dryland regions
• 5. Apply basic field inventory techniques
• 6. Apply some basic quantitative techniques related to degradation processes process and use these in a climate change or land use change scenario study
• 7. Effectively co-operate in small research teams with the assignment to efficiently collect and integrate data
• 8. Organize and Integrate data in an efficient manner
• 9. Apply field and lab data in a computer model for the purpose of quantifying soil hydrology and salinity
• 10. Conduct scenario analyses investigating the effects of climate change on contrasting soils or land uses

Teaching methods

• Hoorcollege
• Werkcollege
• Laptopcollege
• Veldwerk/excursie
• Presentatie/symposium
• Zelfstudie
• Zelfstandig werken aan bijv. project/scriptie
• Lecture
• Computer lab session/practical training
• Fieldwork/excursion
• Presentation/symposium
• Self-study

(Working) lectures before fieldwork
An almost two weeks field course in southeastern Spain.

Computer classes after fieldwork

Final symposium

Learning activities

Attendance

Programme's requirements concerning attendance (OER-B):

• In case of practical sessions, the student is obliged to attend at least of 90% of the sessions and to prepare himself adequately, unless indicated otherwise in the course manual. In case the student attends less than 90%, the practical sessions should be redone entirely.
• In case of tutorials/seminars with assignments, the student is obliged to attend at least 90% of the tutorials/seminars and to prepare himself adequately, unless indicated otherwise in the course manual. In case the student attends less than 90%, the course cannot be finished

Additional requirements for this course:

The full field work is mandatory. It is not allowed to miss more than 2 practicals.

Assessment

Field work part 1 is assessed at the end of the first week in the field and is based on:
a. Effort put into the preparation, execution and elaboration phases.
b. In the field, the assessment will concentrate on:
* Knowledge of theory and its practical application
* Mapping practice, orientation, use of the map and application of the key
* Effort and perseverance, motivation, development during the fieldwork
* Observation system and quality of the observations, understanding of landscape relationships
* Drawing technique, reliability of the map and the observations
* Meticulousness of the work
Field work part 2 is assessed at the very end of the fieldwork period.The assessment will concentrate on:
* Knowledge of theory and its practical application
* Mapping practice, orientation, use of the map and application of the key
* Effort and perseverance, motivation, development during the fieldwork
* Observation system and quality of the observations, understanding of landscape relationships
* Drawing technique, reliability of the map and the observations, quality of final maps
* Meticulousness of the work
* Completeness of the data set
* Quality of the field presentation
Assessment of the field report. The deadline for handing in the report is 4 June 2019, 23.59 hours
The final report will be assessed principally on structure, language, style, correct use of terminology, structure and
completeness (see field syllabus), as well as on the evidence provided to underpin observations, measurements and
calculations, on the distinction between facts and interpretations, the discussion and on evidence furnished, insights
and resulting conclusions, the quality and completeness of the geo-database. The geo-database is a mandatory part of
the report and has to be handed in together with the final report. An incomplete geo-database will result in a fail for
the report.

Assessment diagram

Assignments

Final Report

• The report is written jointly by the field team,

  Halfway the reporting period feed back will be given on the draft report

  Feed-back will provided after the report has been submitted

Geo-database

• The geo-database is constructed by the field team,

  Halfway the reporting period feed back will be given on the draft database

  Feed-back will provided after the final version  has been submitted

Final field maps

• The final field maps have to be ready and approved before leaving the fieldwork area and will be assessed under part Field work 2

Fraud and plagiarism

The 'Regulations governing fraud and plagiarism for UvA students' applies to this course. This will be monitored carefully. Upon suspicion of fraud or plagiarism the Examinations Board of the programme will be informed. For the 'Regulations governing fraud and plagiarism for UvA students' see: www.student.uva.nl

Course structure

Timetable

The schedule for this course is published on DataNose.

Additional information

During the course you will stay almost 2 weeks abroad continuously

See also the blackboard page “Insurance and Safety”  http://blackboard.uva.nl/

The courses Soils and the Environment as well as Digital Earth II should have been followed for enrollment. The fieldwork part and report of Soils and Envirenment should be passed with a 6.0.

Maximum capacity: 60 students

Last year's course evaluation

In order to provide students some insight how we use the feedback of student evaluations to enhance the quality of education, we decided to include the table below in all course guides.

Contact information

Coordinator

• dr. L.H. Cammeraat

Staff

• dr. W.M. de Boer
• R.L. van Hall MSc
• dr. A.M. Kooijman
• dr. W.E. Morriën
• dr. Kenneth Rijsdijk